A NURSE found dead after answering a hoax call for the Duchess of Cambridge during her first pregnancy, which led to details of her treatment being revealed, thought "it was her fault", an inquest heard.

Jacintha Saldanha, 46, was found dead in nursing accommodation shortly after staff were tricked into telling two radio DJs about Kate's stay at London's King Edward VII's Hospital in December 2012.

An inquest into her death heard the mother of two told her colleague she was upset that she had believed the prank was a genuine call from the Queen. Kate was being treated for acute morning sickness at the time.

In a statement read out by the coroner, nurse Araceli Articlave said Mrs Saldanha was in charge of the hospital that night.

"Jacintha believed it was a genuine call and she put it through to the duty nurse. She was worrying that she had put the call through.

"Jacintha told me she was very upset and felt it was her fault."

Mrs Saldanha was the first nurse to answer a call by Australian DJs Mel Greig and Michael Christian, who pretended to be the Queen and Prince Philip for an on-air prank. She passed them on to a second nurse on Kate's ward, who was duped into giving out details of her medical condition.

Mrs Saldanha's body was found on December 7, 2012 - three days after the call.

The hospital's matron Caroline Cassells said she tried to reassure the nurse who was upset following the incident.

The chief executive of Southern Cross Media Group, the parent company of 2Day FM which carried out the prank call, said it does not hold the two DJs responsible for the broadcast.